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Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Make Friends with a Farmer

Yesterday
was Occupy Our Food Supply Day and many online commentators were highlighting
the problems with corporate control of our food. Anna Lappé
and Willie Nelson explain why it matters. (click here for full story)

Corporate
control of our food system has led to the loss of millions of family farmers,
the destruction of soil fertility, the pollution of our water, and health
epidemics including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and even certain forms of
cancer. More and more, the choices that determine the food on our shelves are
made by corporations concerned less with protecting our health, our
environment, or our jobs than with profit margins and executive bonuses.This
consolidation also fuels the influence of concentrated economic power in
politics: Last year alone, the biggest food companies spent tens of millions
lobbying on Capitol Hill with more than $37
million used in the fight against junk food marketing guidelines for kids.

Dentist
and Food Activist Dr Susan Robin who also gives specific examples here of what areas
we need to address.

The
occupy movement has reminded us all of the economic disparity that exists in
our world and for this I sincerely thank them. But if we are going to focus on
what we are for, as much as what we are against, we should occupy our land,
re-occupy our soils with life and fertility, our communities with good food. We
can march on Wall Street, or we can continue to work quietly and diligently in
rebuilding the real economy, the one based on soil and sunlight and communities
working together to grow food.

So get to
know your Farmer. Even the USDA is getting involved.

On Wednesday
2/29 via live webcast the USDA will unveil the Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food
Compass, and highlight USDA's support for local and regional food opportunities.

You can
participate live by asking questions on Twitter to @usda and using the hashtag
#KYF2 or click here for more information.

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Kathy@hawthornuniversity.org

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HawthornUniversity is dedicated to providing supportive, comprehensive, and professional education in the fields of holistic health, nutrition, and the health sciences through the utilization of distance education methods. Hawthorn offers online undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate degrees, certificates and continuing education programs to a diverse community of adult learners working to enhance health and wellness around the world.